UK’s Johnson to go to Brussels amid Brexit talks impasse

BRUSSELS (AP) — Greater than 4 years after serving to set Britain’s course out of the European Union, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is headed to EU headquarters to attempt to end the job.

With lower than a month till the U.Ok.’s financial rupture with the European Union and talks on a brand new commerce deal at a standstill on three essential points, Johnson and European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen agreed Monday to satisfy in individual “within the coming days” to see whether or not they can discover widespread floor.

Brussels is harmful territory for Brexit-backing British leaders. Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa Might, got here again and again to barter a Brexit deal, solely to see it repeatedly rejected by her personal Parliament, ending her top-level profession. Johnson can be hoping for a fast in-and-out that leaves his fame intact and his nation on track for a free commerce cope with its greatest financial companion.

Johnson and von der Leyen spoke by cellphone Monday for the second time in 48 hours, as their negotiators have been caught in gridlocked commerce talks. They stated after the decision that that “vital variations” remained on three key points — fishing rights, fair-competition guidelines and the governance of future disputes — and “the circumstances for finalizing an settlement are usually not there.”

The 2 leaders stated in a joint assertion they deliberate to debate the remaining variations “in a bodily assembly in Brussels within the coming days.”

Regardless of the persevering with deadlock, plans for a top-level assembly can be seen as an indication there’s nonetheless an opportunity of a deal, although No. 10 Downing St. stated the state of affairs was “difficult” and failure a definite chance.

No timing was given for the face-to-face assembly. Leaders of the 27 EU nations are on account of maintain a two-day summit in Brussels beginning Thursday.

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier had no information of a breakthrough when be briefed ambassadors of the 27 member states early Monday on the possibilities of a cope with London earlier than the Dec. 31 deadline.

Irish Overseas Minister Simon Coveney stated Barnier’s message was “very downbeat.”

Penny Mordaunt, a junior minister for Brexit planning, informed lawmakers within the Home of Commons that the “stage taking part in subject” — competitors guidelines that Britain should comply with to realize entry to the EU market — was essentially the most troublesome unresolved situation.

Officers on each side stated there have been additionally main variations over the authorized oversight of any commerce deal and European boats’ entry to U.Ok. waters.

Whereas the U.Ok. left the EU politically on Jan. 31, it stays inside the bloc’s tariff-free single market and customs union via Dec. 31. Reaching a commerce deal by then would guarantee there aren’t any tariffs and commerce quotas on items exported or imported by the 2 sides, though there would nonetheless be new prices and pink tape.

Each side would endure economically from a failure to safe a commerce deal, however most economists suppose the British financial system would take a better hit as a result of the U.Ok. does virtually half its commerce with the bloc.

EU member states must unanimously help any post-Brexit commerce deal and the settlement nonetheless must be voted on by the European parliament, procedures that will push any deal proper as much as the end-of-year deadline.

Whereas each Britain and the EU say they need a commerce deal, belief and goodwill are strained after months of testy negotiations.

In an additional complication, Johnson’s authorities on Monday revived laws that breaches the legally binding Brexit withdrawal settlement it struck with the EU final yr.

The U.Ok. authorities acknowledges that the Inside Market Invoice breaks worldwide regulation, and the laws has been condemned by the EU, U.S. President-elect Joe Biden and scores of British lawmakers, together with many from Johnson’s personal Conservative Get together.

The Home of Lords, Parliament’s higher chamber, eliminated the law-breaking clauses from the laws final month, however Johnson’s authorities is asking lawmakers to place them again in.

Britain says the invoice, which supplies the federal government energy to override elements of the withdrawal settlement regarding commerce with Northern Eire, is required as an “insurance coverage coverage” to guard the move of products inside the U.Ok. within the occasion of a no-deal Brexit. The EU sees it as an act of dangerous religion that might imperil Northern Eire’s peace settlement.

On Wednesday the U.Ok. plans to introduce a Taxation Invoice that comprises extra measures alongside the identical strains and would additional irritate the EU.

However the British authorities supplied the bloc an olive department on the difficulty, saying it could take away the lawbreaking clauses if a joint U.Ok.-EU committee on Northern Eire discovered options within the coming days. It stated talks within the committee, which continued Monday, had been constructive.

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Jill Lawless reported from London. Samuel Petrequin contributed from Brussels.

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Observe all AP tales about Brexit and British politics at https://apnews.com/Brexit